214: AI, Balance, and Rethinking Tech in the Classroom with Kasey Bell

Episode 214: AI, Balance, and Rethinking Tech in the Classroom with Kasey BellWhat happens when one of the biggest voices in edtech starts asking harder questions about… edtech?In this episode, Meghan sits down with Kasey Bell, educator, author, and founder of Shake Up Learning, to talk about the evolving role of technology in the classroom—and why balance matters more now than ever.From her early days as a middle school teacher to becoming a leader in instructional technology, Kasey shares how her work has shifted from simply integrating tools to helping teachers save time, think critically, and protect what matters most for students.This conversation dives into AI, classroom tech, student well-being, and the growing tension between innovation and responsibility.The real story behind Shake Up Learning and how it grew from one blog postWhy technology should support teaching—not dominate itThe biggest misconception about classroom tech: you don’t have to use it for everythingHow AI is transforming teacher workflows—and saving serious timeWhy Kasey is cautious about student use of AI tools (for now)The impact of social media and device-based childhoods on student behaviorWhat teachers are seeing: “These kids are different”The need to bring back face-to-face communication and human interactionWhy creativity may matter more than ever in an AI-driven world“Just because it’s new doesn’t mean we should immediately embrace it—especially when it comes to kids.” Must-try tool: ClaudeStop doing: Grading everythingStart doing: Learning AIMyth to bust: Every student doing the same thing at the same timeThis episode pushes us to rethink:Are we using tech because it’s effective—or because it’s there?Are we preparing students for the future—or overwhelming them in the present?Are we protecting kids online the same way we protect them offline?Website: Shake Up LearningPodcast: The Shake Up Learning ShowFocus: Practical, time-saving tech strategies for teachersNo Name Paper: A Teacher PodcastWhere teaching is more than one size fits all.✨ In This Episode, We Discuss:💡 Key Takeaway⚡ Rapid Fire Highlights🧠 What This Episode Challenges🔗 Connect with Kasey Bell🎙️ About the Podcast